Articles tagged with Rna Synthesis
The Blavatnik Foundation recognizes 9 young scientists for their exceptional research, advancing discoveries in life sciences, physical sciences & engineering. The 2026 honorees are advancing discoveries in areas such as autoimmune disease, cancer, and quantum technologies.
Researchers have discovered a previously underappreciated mechanism that helps immune cells respond rapidly to infections by altering RNA splicing. This study provides new insights into immune-mediated diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, and may lead to more targeted therapies.
A research team discovered that a protein complex consisting of SMG1, SMG8, and SMG9 ensures the efficient execution of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). The study found that this complex is essential for maintaining the stability of NMD under various conditions.
Researchers identify circulating extracellular vesicles produced in diseased kidneys as the culprit behind toxicity in the heart. The discovery could lead to the development of a blood test to identify patients at high risk for serious heart problems and novel treatments to prevent and treat heart failure.
Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center discovered that inflexible DNA within nucleosomes regulates the positioning of INO80, a chromatin remodeling complex. This unique mechanism allows INO80 to position itself on the surface of nucleosomes at the right location.
Zerlasiran, a small-interfering RNA targeting hepatic synthesis of apolipoprotein(a), significantly reduced time-averaged lipoprotein(a) concentrations by over 80% during 36 weeks of treatment. This finding has potential implications for the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Researchers demonstrate the first cross-chiral exponential amplification of an RNA enzyme, potentially leading to the development of cross-chiral therapeutics and biotechnologies. The discovery suggests that a bioengineer can create a new form of biochemical evolution by using both left- and right-handed molecules.
Researchers at Nagoya University developed an innovative synthesis technology to produce high-purity, fully chemically synthesized mRNA. This breakthrough cuts down the production time and can be used to address concerns about purity and speed in mRNA vaccine development.
A team of scientists at Harvard University developed a new RNA synthesis process that produces RNA with efficiencies comparable to current industry standards. The novel method can incorporate all common molecular modifications found in RNA drugs, expanding the RNA therapeutic design space.
Researchers identify TRMT10C enzyme causing methylation of ND5 mRNA, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced energy supply to the brain. Impairment of complex I in the respiratory chain contributes to Alzheimer's disease pathology.
Researchers at IOCB Prague have developed a novel method for preparing ribonucleic acid (RNA) containing modified bases using engineered DNA polymerases. This opens the door to applications in chemical biology and therapeutic applications, including mRNA drugs.
Researchers at CRAG have made groundbreaking discoveries on seed germination, identifying key regulatory features and non-coding RNAs that drive the process. The study reveals that transcription restarts much earlier than previously thought, opening up new avenues for investigation into the role of the non-coding genome.
A team of Chinese and UK researchers has identified superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) as a potential target for reversing drug resistance in ovarian cancer. By using nanoparticles to deliver siRNA that reduces SOD1 levels, the study showed reduced growth and decreased resistance to cisplatin in female mice.
A breakthrough treatment targeting bone marrow cancer cells destroyed 90% of multiple myeloma cells in laboratory tests and 60% in human tissue samples. Researchers developed lipid-based nanoparticles containing RNA molecules that silence the CKAP5 gene, inhibiting cancer cell division.
James Chappell, a Rice University bioscientist, has won a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to create RNA programming methods for microbial communities in natural habitats. His research aims to improve human health and the environment by genetically manipulating microbial communities.
Researchers at Rice University have developed cells that can store and process information similar to computer RAM. The cells will be programmed to synthesize redox-active molecules that carry information to and from the outside world, allowing for quick read and write capabilities.
A new protein called NDF has been discovered to enhance gene activation and may be involved in diseases like cancer. Found in all human tissues, NDF works by stimulating RNA polymerase elongation, a key step in gene expression.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet shows how certain RNA molecules control the repair of damaged DNA in cancer cells. The researchers discovered two molecule types that interact to regulate an enzyme involved in DNA-repair mechanisms, leading to faulty DNA repair in cancer cells.
Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University have identified the molecular mechanism behind an important form of RNA modification, which can lead to genetic disorders. The discovery could pave the way for targeted RNA modifications and gene therapies.
Scientists have developed a gene-silencing tool that can quash gene activity across generations using small noncoding RNA molecules. This technique, called piRNAi, has expanded the molecular toolkit for gene manipulations and allows for more detailed investigations in nematode worms.
Scientists are using peptide nucleic acids to study SARS-CoV-2 RNA pseudoknots, a crucial mechanism for viral replication and translation. Understanding this process could lead to new methods to disrupt it, potentially leading to more effective treatments.
Researchers at South Ural State University used computer modeling to identify a substance that can block the spread of coronavirus. The study found that ligands must match RNA polymerase as closely as possible to be effective, and scientists have developed an equation to test other ligands' effectiveness on receptors.
Researchers have solved a long-standing mystery of how living organisms distinguish RNA and DNA building blocks during gene expression. The discovery enables the design of more effective antiviral drugs targeting viral RNA polymerases.
A new RNA detection method, BOLORAMIS, overcomes limitations of previous technologies to analyze RNA molecules in their native cellular environment. The study demonstrates high specificity and sensitivity, enabling the analysis of multiple RNAs simultaneously.
Researchers at LMU München report a hydrothermal mechanism that could have promoted the prebiotic evolution of self-replicating molecules. In an experiment, warm water circulation through pores stimulates RNA strand replication, overcoming the initial problem of double-stranded RNA formation.
A team of scientists discovered ribozymes that utilize the prebiotically plausible 2-aminoimidazole group to catalyze RNA synthesis. This finding implies a complex interplay between nonenzymatic and enzymatic RNA synthesis during Earth's origin, challenging existing theories.
Researchers evolved an RNA polymerase ribozyme that can synthesize its own ancestor, a class I ligase enzyme, in three separate RNA strands. However, the synthesized ligases were often free from function-disabling mutations and exhibited poor fidelity of synthesis.
A new study proposes that the first building blocks of life on Earth were not uniform but rather patchwork molecules containing bits of RNA and DNA. The 'RNA World' hypothesis has been revised to suggest a Frankenstein-like beginning, with RNA emerging from a mixture of nucleotides.
Researchers developed Janus bases to target and silence harmful genes in rare genetic diseases. The bivalent nucleic acid recognition platform is being used to create new treatments.
Researchers have identified a unified chemical pathway that generates both purine and pyrimidine nucleosides, key building blocks of RNA. The 'wet-dry' cycling approach provides a plausible solution to the formation of Watson-Crick bases, but synthesis specifics of carbohydrates remain unclear.
Scientists mixed RNA and DNA to study how life began on Earth, finding unstable chimeras that can replicate RNA and DNA. The research suggests a more complex system may have existed before pure RNA and DNA, supporting alternative theories of life's origins.
A research team led by Prof. HUANG Xuhui discovered the mechanism of RNA polymerase II correcting errors in RNA synthesis, which relies on the RNA itself rather than amino acid residues. This finding offers insights into how transcription may go wrong in ageing and diseased cells, potentially leading to various human diseases.
Researchers from Tokyo Institute of Technology found that sodium chloride can assist in making RNA building blocks. This process could have occurred on early Earth, bringing us closer to understanding how life began.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a synthetic molecule that can recognize and bind to double-stranded DNA or RNA under normal physiological conditions. The Janus gamma PNAs have an extraordinarily high binding energy and can be designed to target genomic DNA for gene editing and transcriptional regulation.
Researchers at the University of Vienna and McGill University have created a new approach to synthesizing RNA, making it up to a million times more efficient than previous methods. The breakthrough uses photolithographic fabrication technology and a new protecting group to produce RNA chips with high yields.
A research team has identified DDX3, a protein involved in RNA metabolism, as a key factor promoting arenavirus multiplication. The study may pave the way to new therapeutic treatments for arenaviruses and hemorrhagic fever, which currently have no effective treatment.
Scientists have discovered a new mechanism of sex determination in the crustacean Daphnia magna, where long chain noncoding RNAs activate male-determining genes. This finding contributes to our understanding of lncRNA function and diversity in sex-determination mechanisms.
Scientists have shown that alternation of wet and dry conditions can drive the prebiotic synthesis of RNA nucleosides. The new experiments demonstrate a plausible route for the formation of these building blocks, which constitute the informational components of RNA.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discover a new mechanism regulating hemoglobin gene expression through stress response. Stress is necessary to produce hemoglobin, and its signal activates enzymes to facilitate splicing.
Researchers have developed a new CRISPR-Cpf1 technique to modify the fat content of soybean oil by editing two FAD2 genes. This method results in an increase in oleic acid and a decrease in linoleic acid, leading to healthier oil.
Researchers have discovered that distinct conformations of a protein essential for spliceosome assembly on mRNA precursors significantly influence splicing efficiency. The findings suggest that different structural configurations adopted by the large subunit of U2AF regulate splicing operations, affecting protein synthesis rates and fi...
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a technology platform that provides high-resolution representation of RNA folding during synthesis. This breakthrough allows for the study of RNA folding in unprecedented detail, potentially leading to discoveries in basic biology, gene expression, and disease.
A new gene expression analysis method, GlobinLockTM, overcomes technical bias in blood sample analysis caused by erythrocytes, allowing for more effective biomarker identification. The patented assay minimizes reagent and sample material needs, making it a robust tool for biotechnology companies.
Researchers at TSRI successfully created a ribozyme capable of synthesizing complex RNA molecules with mixed sequences, showing promise for replicating the ancient RNA world. The new ribozyme can perform both RNA synthesis and replication, a crucial step towards creating a self-sustaining RNA-based life form.
The study reveals that p53's RNA-binding capacity plays a crucial role in controlling mRNA translation, with some mutant forms of the protein even promoting tumour growth. By binding to MDMX mRNA, p53 can suppress its own negative regulator, highlighting a previously unknown mechanism of action for this essential tumour suppressor.
Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München have identified a plausible reaction mechanism for the production of key components of RNA under conditions similar to those on the young Earth. The discovery validates a pathway that could explain how chemical evolution proceeded before the formation of the first cells.
Researchers have identified a way to allow normal frataxin production to resume in individuals with Friedreich's ataxia, a neurological disease for which there is currently no cure. The synthetic DNA or RNA prevents the mutant sequence from bending back and blocking the frataxin gene.
Researchers found no knots in RNA structures among 6,000 known chains. Instead, naturally occurring RNAs tend to form simple geometric configurations.
Researchers discovered that Ebola and Marburg viruses edit their genetic material by adding extra nucleotides to their RNA. This process, known as RNA editing, was previously unknown in these viruses and could lead to a better understanding of their biology and the development of new treatments.
International study reveals blood product sterilization processes can prevent platelets from carrying out their functions correctly, potentially leading to hemorrhages. The processes alter the genetic material of pathogen-reducing treatments, depleting platelets of RNA and impairing their ability to synthesize essential proteins.
Researchers discovered how a plant-virus protein suppresses a key plant defense mechanism that remembers viral genetic information. The enzyme cluster formation caused by TGBp1 disrupts the recording of viral genetic information, reducing plant resistance to infection.
Researchers at MIPT found that combined mutations of two genes in Drosophila flies result in synergistic effects on phenotypic expression, leading to defects in leg formation, memory impairment, and reduced resistance to superoxide radicals. The study provides insights into the mechanisms of morphogenesis and detoxification.
A study published in Nature has shown that non-coding antisense RNA can stimulate protein production by acting as a 'lock' for coding RNA, enabling the action of a stimulatory sequence to promote protein synthesis.
Molecular biologists at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered that DEAD-box proteins, ancient enzymes found in all forms of life, function as recycling 'nanopistons' to unwind RNA. This mechanism has implications for treating cancer and viruses in humans.
Researchers at University of Missouri have found that targeting synthetic RNA to a specific gene can significantly lower the severity of Spinal Muscular Atrophy in mice. The study shows promising results with improved motor skills and increased weight in affected animals.
Researchers aim to create biological circuits using RNA molecules for the engineering of programmable genetic networks. They have successfully eliminated protein requirements and developed a system that can sense RNA input and synthesize output signals, performing logic operations and regulating multiple genes. This breakthrough has si...
The DSF Charitable Foundation has given a $3.9 million grant to Carnegie Mellon University's Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology (CNAST) to develop novel biomedical tools for monitoring and manipulating gene expression. The grant will support the development of peptide nucleic acids, synthetic analogs of DNA and RNA with ex...
Researchers have detected and quantified novel small RNAs in human cells that represent entirely new classes of gene-translating molecules. The findings confirm a long-held hypothesis that mammalian cells can synthesize RNA by copying RNA molecules directly.
Researchers create customizable biological computer using synthetic RNA that can detect tumor cells and respond to biochemical signals. The device has potential medical applications, including targeted gene therapies and cancer treatment.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine measure transcription stages in real-time, revealing inefficient first two stages with only 1% polymerases remaining. Elongation phase takes 517 seconds, while pausing and rapid synthesis may regulate gene expression.